In this episode I offer a comprehensive review of Irish primary education for the year 2025. I cover various educational policies, initiatives, and challenges, spanning teacher shortages, special education crises, the hot meal scheme, religious influences in schools, and the controversial snow days. I discuss new policies introduced by the government, the effectiveness of the Department of Education, and the impact of external events like the conflict in Gaza on school environments. Despite the challenges, I’m, as always, cautiously optimistic for 2026!

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:50 Annual Review of the Primary School Year

02:49 January: Snow Days and New Government

07:09 February: Controversies and Challenges

11:08 March: The Cluster Games and Special Education

16:37 April: Teacher Burnout and Financial Crisis

22:52 May: Religion in Schools Debate

26:45 June: End of School Year and ICT Grant

27:52 July: Teacher Shortages and National Convention

31:24 August: Secretary and Caretaker Strikes

34:44 September: Strike Lessons and Hot Meal Scheme

37:34 October: School Census and Budget

39:59 November: IPPN Conference and New Minister

41:44 December: Reflections and Looking Forward

Every time I open Google’s NotebookLM, it gets better and better. The graphic above was created using the app and I think it did a good job of summarising the year in a single graphic.

The podcast didn’t do a bad job either though it fell into temptation a couple of times referring to issues at second level. However, all in all, I’m pretty pleased with it, and I’d love to know what you think.

In this episode of 'If I were the Minister for Education', I delve into the integration of AI in the Irish Primary Education System joined by Amanda Jolliffe, the lead of Microsoft Ireland's Dream Space, to discuss the influence of AI on education and the various innovative tools and programs offered by Dream Space. We explore how AI can assist both teachers and students, from lesson planning to creative learning activities. The discussion covers not only the benefits and applications of AI but also the importance of critical thinking, ethical use, and equitable access to technology in schools. The episode also highlights the significance of professional learning for teachers and forthcoming initiatives like a new Dream Space hub focused on skilling and cloud operation infrastructure.

More about Dream Space: https://dreamspace.microsoft.com/en-us/dreamspace/ireland

Oide AI Hub: https://www.oidetechnologyineducation.ie/ai-hub/